Fabio Quartararo has shed light on his decision to remain with Yamaha amidst speculation about financial motivations. Despite criticisms about the M1’s competitiveness, the 2021 MotoGP champion renewed his contract, citing the overall project and the dedication of Yamaha’s staff as his primary reasons.
The Frenchman emphasized that his choice was not driven by money, although he acknowledges it plays a part: ‘It’s because of the project that is being developed and the way the people at Yamaha work. Of course, the financial part is a small factor among all the positives I noticed, which are more than just promises.’, he said to AS.com.
Asked if the new rules for 2027 will affect the ability to improve in the next two years, Quartararo replied: ‘With the investment they do at Yamaha, I don’t really think we need to worry about that. Moreover, my contract is not for 2027’.
And when Yamaha could be competitive again? Quartararo spoke about his expectations: ‘We need time. We need a year. I believe that at the beginning of next year, we will be in a different position from now and we can start talking like in the past and not wonder if we can make it to Q2, and make it more often than we do now’.
As he remains optimistic about Yamaha’s future, Quartararo noted: ‘I think Yamaha’s short-term goal is to return to form, and in the long term, stay there’.
Despite Yamaha’s struggles, Quartararo dismisses the idea of focusing on Honda, which he sees as less competitive: ‘I personally don’t care about beating Honda at all. Why would you want to look at who is behind you? I care about what we have. I don’t care about others. You have to look at the people in front and not those behind’.
Quartararo’s commitment to Yamaha highlights his belief in the team’s potential and his desire to help them reclaim their former glory in MotoGP. As he continues to work towards this goal, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see if Yamaha can indeed turn things around.